Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /media/www/hollywood/Web/releases/20150325105258/vendor/doctrine/common/lib/Doctrine/Common/Annotations/FileCacheReader.php on line 202
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /media/www/hollywood/Web/releases/20150325105258/vendor/doctrine/common/lib/Doctrine/Common/Annotations/FileCacheReader.php on line 202
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /media/www/hollywood/Web/releases/20150325105258/vendor/doctrine/common/lib/Doctrine/Common/Annotations/FileCacheReader.php on line 202
Eddie Murphy in talks to play Richard Pryor's dad in biopic

By:
WENN.com
Mar 13, 2015

Eddie Murphy is in talks to join the Richard Pryor biopic Lee Daniels is directing for The Weinstein Co. Mike Epps has been cast as the late comedy legend, and Murphy is considering a supporting role as Pryor's abusive father, LeRoy, according to U.S. news show Entertainment Tonight.
Kate Hudson has also reportedly signed on to portray Pryor's fourth and seventh wife, Jennifer Lee Pryor, who is one of the film's producers.
Daniels appears to have confirmed Murphy's interest by posting a photo of himself with the funnyman, adding the caption, "Strap in and brace yourself. They done let me and him out of our cages! #idonteventhinkimreadyforthisone! #excited #proud #OMG."

John Candy's comedy Uncle Buck is set for a rebirth on TV with an all-black cast. Mike Epps will take on the role played by Candy in the 1989 film, while Nia Long will play his sister-in-law Alexis, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In the John Hughes original, Candy played the childish brother of Garret M. Brown's character, who takes on the responsibility of looking after his sibling's kids.
Macaulay Culkin played one of the children in the original.

Director Lee Daniels is helping supermodel Naomi Campbell make her big screen acting return by casting her in his upcoming Richard Pryor biopic. The filmmaker recently recruited the British beauty for a recurring role in his new TV drama series Empire, alongside Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, and now Campbell will have a role in his next project, too.
She revealed the news during an interview on U.S. breakfast show Today on Friday (23Jan15) as she discussed her appearance on Empire, saying, "I'm grateful to Lee Daniels (for casting her in Empire)... and also Richard Pryor, his new film, with Oprah (Winfrey), Mike Epps, Kate Hudson."
Campbell stopped short of sharing any further details about her part.
The Hangover funnyman Epps will portray the late comic legend in the new biopic, with Hudson taking on the role of his wife, Jennifer Lee Pryor, and Selma star Oprah Winfrey as his grandmother.
Production is expected to begin at the end of March (15).
Pryor died in 2005, aged 65, after suffering a heart attack.
Campbell last featured on the movie screen in 2009 Bollywood film Karma, Confessions and Holi, while she also previously appeared in 1999 comedy Trippin'.

Actress Kate Hudson has joined the cast of Lee Daniels' Richard Pryor biopic as the late comedian's wife. The Almost Famous star will take on the role of Jennifer Lee Pryor alongside Mike Epps as the funnyman, while media mogul Oprah Winfrey will play his grandmother.
And Daniels cannot wait to get started on the movie, saying, "I'll start pre-production in January and shoot at the end of March, beginning of April, in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
"It's been so great because I haven't really worked on a film in over a year. I'm anxious to be getting behind the camera."
Pryor died in 2005, aged 65, after suffering a heart attack. He spent years battling multiple sclerosis prior to his death.

TV titan/actress Oprah Winfrey has been tapped to play Richard Pryor's grandmother in the upcoming biopic of the legendary comedian. The Color Purple star is reteaming with filmmaker Lee Daniels in the big screen version of Pryor's life, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Winfrey will play Marie Carter, the grandmother with whom Pryor had an extremely complicated and strained relationship with. Carter ran the brothel where the funnyman grew up, and where his mother Gertrude also worked as a prostitute, but left her family behind when he was just 10 years old.
Winfrey confirmed on Sunday (24Aug14) that actor Mike Epps will play Pryor in the film by posting a photo on Instagram.com of herself along with Epps and director Daniels, alongside the caption, "@theoriginalbigdaddy, @eppsie, and me just finished a great 1st read session. #RichardPryorMovie."
Winfrey and Daniels previously collaborated as co-executive producers of Precious in 2009, and he directed her in Lee Daniels' The Butler last year (13).

Actor and funnyman Mike Epps has been confirmed as the lead in director Lee Daniels' upcoming Richard Pryor biopic. Rapper/actor Nick Cannon was previously linked to the title role, but on Sunday (24Aug14) moviemaker Daniels posted a picture of himself, Oprah Winfrey and Epps on Instagram.com captioned, "and we're off... Get ready y'all for #richardpryor @eppsie @oprah."
The untitled project has been in the works since 2009, with actor Forest Whitaker attached to help bring Pryor's life story to the big screen. He signed on to write the script and also produce the film in March (14), although it is not known if he is still linked to the movie.
Adam Sandler and director Bill Condon were also previously involved in the project before it was shelved in 2011.
Meanwhile, Richard Pryor, Jr. has sent a cease and desist letter to the comedian's widow Jennifer Lee Pryor, who is contributing to the film biopic, urging her to stop work on the project amid a dispute over rights.
Pryor, 65, died in 2005 after suffering a heart attack. He spent years battling multiple sclerosis prior to his death.

Comedian Tracy Morgan is receiving "excellent care" from doctors at a New Jersey hospital, but remains in critical condition following a fatal car crash early on Saturday morning (07Jun14), according to the star's representative. The 30 Rock actor, 45, was a passenger in a limo bus which was involved in a six-vehicle pile-up in Cranbury as he made his way back to his New Jersey home following a stand-up gig in Dover, Delaware on Friday night (06Jun14).
Authorities have confirmed that Morgan's comedy writer, James McNair, a passenger onboard the luxury vehicle, died in the accident, while three others, including the actor and his assistant Jeff Millea, are in intensive care and one person is in fair condition.
A statement issued by his representative reads: "Tracy remains in critical condition at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital. He sustained these injuries in an accident that occurred early this morning as one of several passengers in a chauffeured SUV returning from a tour date in Delaware.
"His family is now with him and he is receiving excellent care. We don't anticipate much of a change in his condition today but will provide a further update once more information becomes available."
New Jersey State Police reveal two tractor trailers, two cars and one SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) were involved in the horrific accident, although the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Meanwhile, a host of celebrities have taken to Twitter.com to share their prayers for the actor.
His 30 Rock co-star Alec Baldwin retweeted one fan's message of condolence, and simply added the hashtag "PrayForTracyMorgan", while actress Sarah Michelle Gellar writes, "@RealTracyMorgan My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Please get well soon."
Funnywoman Roseanne Barr posts, "Tracy Morgan is a comic genius and I hope he will recover from the injuries received in a car crash! We love U Tracy (sic)!!", and his fellow Saturday Night Live alum Rachel Dratch tweets, "Shocked to wake up and read that @RealTracyMorgan is injured. Love to Tracy and wishing him strength."
Singer Mary J. Blige writes, "I send angels and prayers to Tracy Morgan. Pls (please) hang in there", and hip-hop star Questlove adds, "Strength & Speedy Recovery to @RealTracyMorgan who survived a massive car crash this morn (sic).".
Comedians Mike Epps and Eddie Griffin, director Jon Favreau, rapper Raekwon and actresses Alyssa Milano and Chloe Grace Moretz have also sent their well wishes to Morgan.

Georgia police have issued a warrant for the arrest of comedian/actor Mike Epps following an alleged assault at a comedy club, according to a U.S. report. An unnamed victim claims The Hangover star and two other men attacked him outside a club in Atlanta on Sunday (01Jun14), after he had made jokes about Epps earlier in the evening.
The victim alleges the 43 year old asked him to step outside to talk and then struck him in the face and kicked him in the stomach and back.
He was reportedly transported to a local hospital with visible bruises and lacerations, according to Myfoxatlanta.com.
The warrant comes two months after Epps was accused of assaulting a woman at a movie premiere party in Los Angeles in April (14).
Following the incident, police decided not to file charges, but the actor was ordered to attend a City Attorney hearing.

Actor/comedian Mike Epps will not face criminal charges for allegedly assaulting a woman at a movie premiere party in Los Angeles last month (Apr14). The Hangover star was attending an event at a bowling alley in Los Angeles following the premiere for A Haunted House 2 on 16 April (14) when he was accused of punching actress Simone Shepherd in the face.
Following the incident Shepherd took a photograph, which apparently showed her with a swollen jaw, but Epps denied hitting her and claimed she threw a drink over him and his wife when he asked for privacy.
After investigating the incident, police have decided not to file charges, but the 43 year old has been ordered to attend a City Attorney hearing, where he'll be lectured on the law.
Shepherd has to appear at a separate hearing, according to TMZ.com.

Served four months in a juvenile center for gluing a classmate's hands together

Raised in Gary, IN

Appeared in the Jamie Foxx actioner "Bait"

Had a cameo in "3 Strikes"

Cast as Ralph Kramden's best friend Ed Norton in the big-screen remake of "The Honeymooners"

Guested on an episode of "The Sopranos" (HBO)

Moved to Atlanta, where he became a regular performer at the Comedy Act Theater

Featured in actor Vin Diesel's directorial debut "Strays"

Lent his voice to a character in "Dr. Dolittle 2"

Reteamed with Ice Cube in the action comedy "All About the Benjamins"

Cast in the romantic comedy "Something New"

First tried stand-up at a talent competition in his native Indiana

Third collaboration with Ice Cube, co-starring in the sequel "Friday After Next"

Summary

Stand-up comedian-turned-actor Mike Epps got his first big break performing on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam" (1992-97; 2006- ), and soon parlayed his popularity into big screen success with co-starring roles in Ice Cube features like "Next Friday" (2000) and "All About the Benjamins" (2002). Tall and handsome with a charming smile and wiseass demeanor, Epps stood out in a string of broad comedies before finally being tapped to play more substantial characters in meatier films like 2007's "Talk to Me."

Name

Role

Comments

Thomas Epps

Father

Bria Epps

Daughter

Bria filed a police report against her father in March 2012, accusing him of making threatening phone calls to her

Mechelle McCain

Wife

Married July 2006

Education

Name

Notes

"I'm real. I really, really practice on it every day, really face my music. I think when you do that, it takes away a lot of your insecurities. I'm just me. I'll give it to you if I have it, and if you don't like it, I'll move on. That's been my attitude all my life." – Epps quoted in Boston Herald, Jan. 14, 2000

"I can direct, write, do everything. Anything that's got to do with being a human being and making some money and putting people in front of the camera or being creative, writing jokes, I can do it. I am a package. I've got a couple of scripts that I've written now. All I have to do is find the right [development] writer and it's a done deal. I'm going to put it down. That's what I'm going to do." – Epps to BlackFilm.com, February 2000